A new website created to inform the public on the Build Belleville program is an essential key, says the chamber of commerce's chief executive officer.

Bill Saunders, CEO for the Belleville and District Chamber of Commerce, said his members have expressed a need for more information on the idea and the new site - www.buildbelleville.ca – is somewhat filling that hole.

Launched this past weekend, the Build Belleville site is maintained by the city's communication co-ordinator and is meant to keep residents informed and providing a venue for feedback on the idea.

The city's infrastructure gap and major capital projects, such as a new the police station, are highlighted on the site as are links to media reports, city hall reports and graphics.

Aaron Bell said the simple goal of the site is to communicate, something he said the city has been lacking in when it comes to residents.

“We like to use the newspaper, we like to use the traditional media to do that but we also know we've got a great opportunity to communicate with people directly through the web, through Facebook, through Twitter,” he said.

“When this Build Belleville program came along I sort of recognized that that would be a good opportunity for me to show how we can communicate in a better way.”

The idea behind the program, which will be further discussed by city council in the near future, is to borrow $80 million to address the city's large infrastructure gap. Borrowing the funds at a guaranteed interest rate of 3.4 per cent for 20 years would boost the city's debt to approximately $153 million.

Members of the local chamber have been asked to fill out a survey showing their thoughts on the plan. So far, Saunders said, there's no clear indication of a stance.

“It's a three-way split,” Saunders said, noting the survey asks members to vote on whether it’s a good idea, a bad idea or more information is needed. “That tells us there are a lot of people out there hearing the plan and I would generalize that by saying people need more information.”

Saunders said council has presented a “bold” vision and the launch of the new website should help people “catch up” and understand what is being proposed.

“I don't think anybody's publicly saying they don't support the plan, it's more a matter of we need to understand what all the implications are,” he said.

“I think (the website) is an excellent way to gain perspective from the public. I think engaging the public and the business community on such a bold vision is critical.”

Bell said that's exactly why the site was launched.

“What we're talking about is the whole capital spend on the infrastructure debt,” Bell said, when asked what residents can find on the site.

“People can find out a little about what we're talking about, what infrastructure's all about, what we mean, why we need the money and why borrowing it, in our estimation, is the best way to do it.”

The site will continue to be updated as the project moves forward and council decides what avenue it wants to take.

“We'll continue to provide information like videos, time lines and things like that so people can follow along and see how their money is being spent,” Bell said.

While the site is still a relatively fresh addition to the web there has already been traffic. Bell said he could not provide numbers as to how many site visits there have been but noted people have already shared comments through the website.

“We are getting a lot of feedback from it, directly, which was the intention,” Bell said. “It's an interactive thing so if there's something people want to know or if they want to provide some input then now's a great time for people to do it.”

Mayor Neil Ellis said the public needs all the information and the site is just another tool to explain why the idea has been presented.

“Our current strategy is not working,” he said. “This is our new strategy and we're asking people for input on any type of strategy as we move forward on an aging infrastructure that needs around $400 million worth of repair.

“The longer it's ignored the worse it's going to get.”

That message is getting out, Ellis said, but having a website for people to peruse and, hopefully, use to better understand the situation can only help. He said he has been surprised, so far, by the plan's positive reception by people.

The big question, Ellis said, is how to address that growing infrastructure gap.

“There's a lot of core issues that need to be addressed to help make our city successful over the next five, 10 and 15 years,” he said.